Irrigation Council - Position Profile

• Monitor the operation and financial performance of the 13 Irrigation Districts;
• Conduct hearings when required to do so under Part 4 of the Irrigation Districts Act (the Act);
• Hear applications under Section 38(2) or (3) of the Act;
• Hear the appeal of any matter appealed to the Council under Part 8 of the Act;
• Grant approval to irrigation districts before an expenditure of money is made under a cost-sharing agreement between a district and the Government of Alberta; and
• Members are appointed for three year terms and are eligible for reappointment.

• The Council's mandate is to:
  • Make recommendations to the Minister on issues related to maintaining a strong, efficient and sustainable irrigation industry and act as an appeal body in accordance with the |Act;
  • Establish policies and procedures for the administration of the Irrigation Rehabilitation Program, to ensure accountability for the public's ongoing investment of funding to rehabilitate irrigation district infrastructure;
  • Make recommendations to the Minister on issues related to rural water development in support of economic and rural viability within areas that can be served by irrigation districts, and
  • Provide policy recommendations to the Minister pertaining to water allocated to irrigation districts with respect to economic and rural development, municipal demands and the protection of the environment.
• The Council consists of a maximum of seven members.
• Irrigation Council is established under Section 50 of the Act which is administered by Agriculture and Forestry.

• Irrigation Council is governed by the Alberta Public Agency Governance Act.
• Irrigation Council is an adjudicative agency.

• Experience
  • Governance - professional or volunteer experience or knowledge related to board governance and processes, including quasi-judicial bodies is preferred. Board governance training and administrative justice training are desirable.
  • Business/management - Experience working on and leading committees, and experience in policy and procedure development is desirable.
  • Accounting/Financial - Understanding of financial statements is desirable.
• Personal Effectiveness Skills
  • Leadership/Teamwork.
  • Consensus Building.
  • Communication/Relationship - able to communicate effectively and build relationships with Council members and industry stakeholders.
  • Strategic Thinking - able to strategically assess opportunities and challenges facing the irrigation industry.
  • Critical Thinking/Decision Making - able to creatively assess situations and generate novel or innovative solutions.
  • Ethics and Personal Values - high standard of personal values (e.g. good judgement, strong integrity and fairness) that align with the Irrigation Council's Code of Conduct.

• Agriculture and Rural Development knowledge - irrigated agriculture in Alberta and its importance in economic, social and environmental aspects of rural development.
• Irrigation Industry and Irrigation Districts operations - irrigation industry in Alberta and the operations of Irrigation Districts. Familiarity with the construction and rehabilitation aspects of irrigation district infrastructure is desirable.

• For time spent on the business of the Council, a member appointed to the Council shall be paid
  • $115 for up to and including four hours in any day, or
  • $191 for over four hours and up to and including eight hours in any day, or
  • $306 for over eight hours in any day
• The remuneration of members appointed to the Council will be set in accordance with Schedule 1 Part B of the Committee Remuneration Order (OC 466/2007), as amended from time to time.
• Approximately six one-day Council meetings are held per year in Lethbridge.
• As the Appeal body under the Act, Council member panels conduct appeal hearings as required.
• There are approximately three days of tours/meetings annually with the irrigation districts in rural southern Alberta.
• Throughout the year various workshops, conferences and or annual general meetings may require Council's attendance.

• Geographic location - represents an area of the irrigated region of Alberta that brings diversity to Council.

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